Bowl, colorless glass decorated with green, red, blue, and black enamel and gilded

In contrast to large parts of the rest of the Muslim world, glass production emerged in India at a fairly late stage. The earliest glass objects date to the Mughal period, when production probably emerged as a reaction to imported glass from Europe.

The Indian glass that has been preserved in larger numbers especially from the 18th and 19th century has the same forms and decorations that were otherwise typical of Mughal art.

This little bowl was decorated in gold with one of the period’s most popular floral motifs: irises. They are framed by delicate, patterned bands in red and green.